NORWALK, Ohio – On April 8, a total solar eclipse will occur. According to the National Solar Observatory in Boulder, Colo., the 2024 eclipse will travel on a northeast path across the center of the United States. The path of this eclipse will skirt through southern Illinois and the western most part of Kentucky, pass through the heart of Indiana (the midpoint being 20 miles south of Indianapolis), extend from west central to northeast Ohio, then continue in a straight path toward Maine.

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and earth, completely blocking the face of the sun. People located in the center of the moon’s shadow will experience a total eclipse. The sky will darken, as if it were dawn or dusk.

The United States hasn’t seen a total solar eclipse since 1806, and after the 2024 total eclipse there won’t be another one until 2099. For this reason, many living outside the path of the upcoming total eclipse will be traveling to those regions that lie in the center of the expected eclipse path.

The April 8 eclipse will take dead aim over Norwalk in Huron County. There the Huron County Fairgrounds will host a “Solar Eclipse Extravaganza.” Events at the fairgrounds will run from April 5-8. Entertainment, food trucks and camping will be available. Camping requires a minimum two-night stay.

Rental coordinator Alexis Dalton said the fairgrounds is expecting a large turnout and may add more events.

“We going to start small and add things as we get closer based on what we are seeing from people coming from out of town,” Dalton said.

Fairgrounds officials say campsites are available to reserve, including primitive sites. Parking on the day of the eclipse is $20 per car. “There is not a deadline to reserve a site, but sites are likely going to fill up fast,” Dalton said.

Many farmers in the eclipse path are preparing to open their farms to visitors and even campers as a way of cashing in on this event.

Jim Karafit, of Karafit Family Farm in Celina, Ohio, has been preparing for this solar event for many months. His farm is located near the center of the expected eclipse path. He’s calling his gathering the “2004 Solar Eclipse Party.”

“In 2017 when we witnessed a partial eclipse, I heard rumors that some farmers in Tennessee were making a lot of money hosting folks on their property during that eclipse,” Karafit said. “I’ve had this idea on my agenda for quite some time. It’s not an easy thing to do, as it’s taken me six months to get an insurance policy for this.”

Karafit’s farm is easy walking distance to Grand Lake St. Marys, with a free boat ramp just down from the farm. Karafit plans on offering 100 acres of 20-feet-by-40-feet primitive camping sites.

Karafit offers camp sites for those wanting to stay Saturday through Tuesday. He will offer entertainment in the way of a few bands and will have food vendors. He will charge $200 for the four-day stay at his farm.

“This is my first time hosting such a huge event so I don’t exactly what to expect,” Karafit said. “I’m already trying to attract people to the farm as I’ve already advertised in Lexington, Louisville and St. Louis.”

At Dull’s Tree Farm in Thorntown, Ind., Tom and Kerry Dull are using a bit of humor in promoting this eclipse event with a slogan that reads “Get Mooned at Dull’s Tree Farm.” Their farm will be open to the public on April 6-8. The charge is $20 per person. Pre-purchased tickets are required, and the cost will include a memorabilia T-shirt. The couple will offer viewing glasses for purchase while supplies last.

Other activities include big slides, zip lines, a rope range, roller bowler, tether ball, tire mountain, corn hole, wall ball, barrel train and much more. Food trucks will be on site, along with Dull’s popular apple cider donuts. There will be no camping, but visitors can book a fire pit for a group gathering.

The Niederman Family Farm in West Chester, Ohio, is opening its spacious acreage for the solar eclipse. With admission, the Niedermans will offer a special pair of ISO certified eclipse glasses. In addition, there will be 20 activities, raffles and commemorative glasses to paid attendees.

Events on the Niederman farm include swing sets, basketball, football toss, corn hole, Barnyard Butt Buster, tire pile, bubble station, barrel train, giant swing, tractor pull, bowling, wall ball, pumpkin toss and putt-putt.

In Crawford County in northeast Ohio, Rusty and Mendy Sellman of Rus-Men Farms are using the promotion, “Countdown to Total Eclipse on the Farm,” with plans for the entire family.

“Our farm in Galion, Ohio is only a few miles from the center path of totality,” Rusty said. “At our farm visitors will have unobstructed sky views and barring any bad weather, we’ll get 3 minutes and 31 seconds of totality.”

The Sellmans will welcome campers to their 200-plus year old farm. Their 40-feet-by-40-feet camping sites will be open to the public beginning on April 6 on a first-come-first-serve basis. The cost for each site is $125.

“We will be grilling up some good eats, with some burgers and brats,” Rusty said. “We have local food trucks schedules and are working with our local Chamber of Commerce in planning other events in the area.”

Nathan and Talina Ryder, owners of Ryder Family Farm in Golconda, Ill., are enticing visitors to their southern Illinois farm to watch the eclipse with a four-course, French-based dinner for attendees at their farm.

“Our farm in southern Illinois is the best place for total solar eclipse viewing,” Nathan said. “We were inside the line of totality for the 2017 total solar eclipse as well. During that eclipse the sounds of farm life slowly came to a halt. Our chickens got very quiet and went to roost, the goats and dogs were confused and got very still. Crickets began to chirp in unison.”

In the Farm World readership area, larger cities in the path for totality for the eclipse of 2024 include Carbondale, Ill., Paducah, Ky., Evansville, Ind., and Cleveland, Ohio.